Shelving system

ABSTRACT

A shelving system includes one or more shelving units. Each shelving unit has vertical frames each frame having at least two vertical posts. The vertical posts are separated by shelf support pieces. A shelf can be mounted horizontally between the vertical frames and be supported by the horizontal shelf support pieces. The shelf is detachably mounted to the vertical post by a sliding mounting connector having a U-shaped channel that can slide along the vertical post. A wedge-shaped piece can be wedged between the sliding mounting connector and the vertical post to secure the sliding mounting connector to the vertical post.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a shelving system. More particularly, this invention relates to a shelving system wherein the height of the shelving units can be altered, and which system can be assembled and disassembled without tools.

2. Description of Related Art

When assembling shelving systems, frame pieces and shelving pieces are often connected with screws to connect the shelving components. However, using screws to assemble the frame and shelving requires the user to perform complicated assembly operations. The use of screws also implies the need for tools, such as a screwdriver.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In a first aspect of the invention, an apparatus and a method for a shelving unit includes two vertical frames each having vertical posts. One or more shelf supports attached to each vertical frame horizontally separate the respective vertical posts thereof. At least one shelf has a plurality of sliding mounting connectors attached to a periphery of the shelf, sized to detachably engage and slide along a respective vertical post. A wedge-shaped piece inserted between the sliding mounting connector and the respective vertical post. When the shelving unit is assembled, the sliding mounting connectors are caused to slide along the vertical posts until the connectors abut the shelf support and the wedge-shaped pieces prevent further sliding of the sliding mounting connectors.

In a second aspect of the invention, an apparatus and a method for expanding the shelving unit vertically includes adding an additional shelving unit. The vertical posts of the vertical frames are hollow at least at a top end and a bottom end, the bottom hollow end having internal screw threads. Vertical connectors having a first end shaped to detachably engage the top end of the vertical post and a second end threaded to thread into the bottom end of the vertical post can be used to assemble a first shelving unit to a second shelving unit.

In a third aspect of the invention, an apparatus and a method for expanding the shelving unit horizontally includes a first vertical frame, a second vertical frame and a third vertical frame each having a respective first, second and third vertical posts. One or more shelf supports attached to each of the first, second and third vertical frames and horizontally separate the respective vertical posts thereof. A first shelf has a plurality of sliding mounting connectors attached to a periphery of the first shelf, the connectors sized to detachably engage and slide along the first, second or third vertical posts. One or more first wedge-shaped pieces can be inserted between the sliding mounting connectors and the respective first, second or third vertical posts. When the shelving system is assembled, the sliding mounting connectors are caused to slide along the respective first or second vertical posts until the connectors of the first shelf abut the shelf support and the first wedge-shaped pieces prevent further sliding of the sliding mounting connectors of the first shelf. A second shelf has a plurality of the sliding mounting connectors attached to a periphery of the second shelf. When the shelving system is assembled, at least one of the sliding mounting connectors of the second shelf is caused to slide along the third vertical post until the connector abuts the shelf support of the third frame and at least one of the sliding mounting connectors of the second shelf is caused to slide along the second vertical post until the connector abuts the sliding mounting connector of the first shelf. Wedge-shaped pieces between the sliding mounting connector of the second shelf and the respective vertical posts prevent further sliding of the sliding mounting connectors of the second shelf.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a shelving unit according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates assembly of sliding mounting connectors to a rectangular shaped shelf;

FIG. 3 illustrates a sliding mounting connector;

FIG. 4 illustrates the assembly of a shelf unit in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a shelving system having stacked shelf units;

FIG. 6 a connector for use is the stacked shelving system of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a shelving system having a shelf unit expanded sideways.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, the shelving system of the present disclosure includes one or more shelving units. Each shelving unit has vertical frames each frame having at least two vertical posts. The vertical posts are separated by shelf support pieces. A shelf can be mounted horizontally between the vertical frames and be supported by the horizontal shelf support pieces. The shelf is detachably mounted to the vertical post by a sliding mounting connector having a U-shaped channel that can slide along the vertical post. A wedge-shaped piece can be wedged between the sliding mounting connector and the vertical post to secure the sliding mounting connector to the vertical post.

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a shelving unit 100 according to the present disclosure. The shelving unit can have two vertical frames 110. Vertical frames 110 can include at least two vertical posts 160 that are separated by shelf supports 120. Shelf supports 120 may be substantially horizontal, that is, perpendicular to vertical posts 110.

Shelf 140 is mounted between two vertical frames 110 using sliding mounting connectors 130 located on the periphery of the shelf. In one embodiment, the shelf 140 is a polygonal shape although the shape of the shelf can be curved or a combination of curved and straight edges. In a particular embodiment, the shelf is rectangular and the sliding mounting connectors are mounted on the shelf substantially at the corners of the shelf. Sliding mounting connectors 130 have U-shaped channels, as described below, and engage vertical post 160 of the vertical frame 110 substantially at the corners of the shelf 140.

Sliding mounting connectors 130 of a shelf 140 a, for example, are detachably engaged with vertical posts 160 during assembly of the shelf to the vertical posts. Shelf 140 a and sliding mounting connector 130 can slide along the vertical post 160 until the sliding mounting connector or shelf abuts shelf support 120. When assembled to the vertical posts, the shelf or sliding mounting connectors is supported by shelf supports 120. Shelves 140 b and 140 c are illustrated in the assembled position supported by respective shelf supports 120.

FIG. 2 illustrates assembly of sliding mounting connectors 130 and a rectangular shaped shelf 140. A sliding mounting connector 130 is mounted to each corner of the shelf 140. A U-shaped channel 170 of the sliding mounting connector is oriented to engage with a respective vertical post of the vertical frame.

FIG. 3 illustrates a sliding mounting connector 130. Sliding mounting connector 130 includes a U-shaped channel 170. U-shaped channel 170 is shaped to engage the vertical post of the vertical frame. U-shaped channel 170 is sized to enable sliding mounting connector 130 to slide along the vertical post when mounted thereto. A wedge-shaped piece 150 can be fitted in the U-shaped channel 170 of the sliding mounting connector 130 to inhibit sliding of the sliding mounting connector.

FIG. 4 illustrates the assembly of a shelf unit. The shelf unit can be assembled from two vertical frames 110 and one or more shelves 140. In a particular embodiment, sliding mounting connectors 130 can be located at the corners of shelf 140 a having a rectangular shape. Shelf 140 a is placed between vertical frames 110. The U-shaped channel 170 of each sliding mounting connector being oriented to engage a respective vertical post 160 of the vertical frame. The U-shaped channel can be first engaged with the respective vertical post at a point above the shelf support 120. A force can be applied to urge the shelf and sliding mounting connector to slide along the vertical posts until being stopped by the shelf support. The wedge-shaped piece 150 is positioned in the U-shaped channel 170 abutting the vertical post. The wedge-shaped piece can be wedged into the channel to prevent by frictional force the sliding of the sliding mounting connector. The assembly process may be repeated for additional shelves.

FIG. 5 illustrates a first embodiment of a shelving system including two shelving units 500 a, 500 b stacked one upon the other. Vertical frames 510 a, 510 b have respective vertical posts 560 a, 560 b. Vertical posts 560 a, 560 b are tubular. That is, the vertical posts are hollow at least at a top end and a bottom end of each vertical post. One end of each vertical post can be threaded to receive a screw thread or have another securing mechanism. In a particular embodiment, the vertical posts are rectangular tubes. A vertical connector 540 detachably connects shelving unit 500 a to shelving unit 500 b by connecting vertical posts 560 a to vertical posts 560 b.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of vertical connector 540. In this embodiment, vertical connector 540 has a substantially cylindrical bottom portion 630 and a threaded top portion 610 separated by a rectangular middle portion 620. Threaded top portion 610 is threaded to thread into a bottom end vertical post 560 a of vertical frame 510 a. Cylindrical bottom portion 630 is sized to fit into a hollow top end of vertical post 560 b of vertical frame 510 b.

Referring again to FIG. 5, each shelving unit 500 a, 500 b is assembled substantially as described in FIG. 1. Threaded top portion 630 of a vertical connector 540 is inserted into the threaded hollow end of each vertical post 560 a. The rectangular middle portion 620 may be used to aid in threading the vertical connector into the vertical post. Moreover, the rectangular middle portion can be sized provide a base upon which the shelving unit 500 a can stably rest. Shelving unit 500 a can be stacked on shelving unit 500 b by inserting the cylindrical bottom portions 630 of each vertical connector into respective hollow top ends of vertical posts 560 b.

FIG. 7 illustrates a second embodiment of a shelving system including a shelving unit 700 that is expanded sideways. The expansion includes an additional vertical frame 710 b, shelves 740 b and sliding mounting connectors 730 b.

Shelving unit 700 is assembled substantially as described in FIG. 1. That is, in summary, shelf 740 is assembled to vertical posts 760 of vertical frame 710 a by sliding mounting connectors 730. Shelf 740 can slide along vertical posts 760 until sliding mounting connector 730 comes in contact with shelf support 720 and is supported thereby. A wedge-shaped piece (not shown) can be wedged between sliding mounting connector 730 and vertical post 760 b to prevent further sliding of shelf 740.

Shelving unit 700 can be expanded sideways by assembling an additional vertical frame 710 b and shelf 740 b to shelving unit 700. Shelf 740 b has sliding mounting connectors 730 b on the periphery of the shelf 740 b. In an embodiment where shelf 740 b is rectangular, sliding mounting connectors 730 b may be located at respective corners of shelf 740 b. Similar to the description above in FIG. 1, sliding mounting connector 730 b has a channel (not shown) as described above to enable the sliding mounting connector to slide along the vertical post. Two sliding mounting connectors 730 b may be located at respective corners of shelf 740 b to enable shelf 740 b to slide along vertical posts 760 b until sliding mounting connector 730 b abuts shelf support 720 b and is supported thereby. Similarly, two sliding mounting connectors 730 b at remaining corners of shelf 740 b can to enable shelf 740 b to slide along vertical post 760 until sliding mounting connector 730 b abuts sliding mounting connector 730, which, in turn, is supported by shelf support 720. Thus, shelf 740 b is supported on one side by shelf support 720 b and on another side by sliding mounting connector 730 supported by shelf support 720. Shelf support 720 b may be positioned on vertical post 760 b so that shelf 740 b is horizontal when assembled to shelving unit 700. A wedge-shaped piece (not shown) can be wedged between each sliding mounting connector 730 b and respective vertical posts 760, 760 b to prevent further sliding of shelf 740 b.

Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A shelving unit, comprising: two vertical frames each having vertical posts; one or more shelf supports attached to each vertical frame and horizontally separating the respective vertical posts thereof; at least one shelf; a plurality of sliding mounting connectors attached to a periphery of the shelf, sized to detachably engage and slide along a respective vertical post; and a wedge-shaped piece inserted between the sliding mounting connector and the respective vertical post, wherein, when assembled, the sliding mounting connectors are caused to slide along the vertical posts until the connectors abut the shelf support and the wedge-shaped piece prevents further sliding of the sliding mounting connectors.
 2. The shelving unit of claim 1, wherein the shelf is rectangular and the sliding mounting connectors are located substantially at each corner of the shelf.
 3. The shelving unit of claim 2, wherein each sliding mounting connector has a U-shaped channel.
 4. The shelving unit of claim 3, wherein the vertical posts are rectangular.
 5. The shelving unit of claim 1, wherein the shelf is in the shape of a polygon having more than four sides.
 6. A method of assembling a shelving unit, comprising: providing a first and a second vertical frame each having respective first and second vertical posts horizontally separated by a respective first and second shelf support; attaching a plurality of sliding mounting connectors to the periphery of a first shelf; attaching each sliding mounting connector to a respective vertical post of the first and second vertical frames; sliding the sliding mounting connectors along the vertical posts until the connectors abut the first and second shelf supports; and inserting a wedge-shaped piece between the sliding mounting connector and the respective vertical support, wherein the sliding mounting connector has a U-shaped channel sized to detachably engage the vertical support.
 7. The method of assembling a shelving unit of claim 6, wherein the shelf is rectangular and the sliding mounting connectors are located substantially at each corner of the shelf.
 8. The method of assembling a shelving unit of claim 7, wherein each sliding mounting connector has a U-shaped channel.
 9. The method of assembling a shelving unit of claim 8, wherein the vertical posts are rectangular.
 10. The method of assembling a shelving unit of claim 6, wherein the shelf is in the shape of a polygon having more than four sides.
 11. A shelving system, comprising, two or more shelving units, each shelving unit comprising two vertical frames each having vertical posts, the vertical posts being hollow at least at a top end and a bottom end, the bottom hollow end having internal screw threads; one or more shelf supports attached to each vertical frame and horizontally separating the respective vertical posts thereof; at least one shelf; a plurality of sliding mounting connectors attached to a periphery of the shelf, sized to detachably engage and slide along a respective vertical post; and a wedge-shaped piece inserted between the sliding mounting connector and the respective vertical post, wherein, when assembled, the sliding mounting connectors are caused to slide along the vertical posts until the connectors abut the shelf support and the wedge-shaped piece prevents further sliding of the sliding mounting connectors; and a plurality of vertical connectors having a first end shaped to detachably engage the top end of the vertical post and a second end threaded to thread into the bottom end of the vertical post.
 12. The shelving system of claim 11, wherein the shelf is rectangular and the sliding mounting connectors are located substantially at each corner of the shelf.
 13. The shelving system of claim 12, wherein each sliding mounting connector has a U-shaped channel.
 14. The shelving system of claim 13, wherein the vertical posts are rectangular.
 15. A method of assembling a shelving system, comprising: assembling a plurality of shelving units, the assembling of each shelving unit comprising the steps of: providing two vertical frames each having vertical posts horizontally separated by a shelf support, the vertical posts being hollow at least at a top end and a bottom end, the bottom hollow end having internal screw threads; attaching a plurality of sliding mounting connectors to the periphery of a shelf; attaching each sliding mounting connector to a respective vertical post of a vertical frame; sliding the sliding mounting connectors along the vertical posts until the connectors abut the shelf support; and inserting a wedge-shaped piece between the sliding mounting connector and the vertical support, wherein the sliding mounting connector has a U-shaped channel sized to detachable engage the vertical support; threading one end a vertical connector into each bottom end of a respective vertical post of a first shelf unit; and stacking the first shelving unit on a second shelving unit by inserting a second end of the vertical connectors into the top ends of respective vertical posts of second shelving unit.
 16. The method of assembling a shelving system of claim 15, wherein the shelf is rectangular and the sliding mounting connectors are located substantially at each corner of the shelf.
 17. The method of assembling a shelving system of claim 16, wherein each sliding mounting connector has a U-shaped channel.
 18. The method of assembling a shelving system of claim 15, wherein the vertical posts are rectangular.
 19. A shelving system, comprising: a first vertical frame, a second vertical frame and a third vertical frame each having a respective first, second and third vertical posts; one or more shelf supports attached to each of the first, second and third vertical frames and horizontally separating the respective vertical posts thereof; a first shelf; a plurality of sliding mounting connectors attached to a periphery of the first shelf, the connectors sized to detachably engage and slide along the first, second or third vertical posts; one or more first wedge-shaped pieces inserted between the sliding mounting connectors and the respective first, second or third vertical posts, wherein, when assembled, the sliding mounting connectors are caused to slide along the respective first or second vertical posts until the connectors of the first shelf abut the shelf support and the first wedge-shaped pieces prevent further sliding of the sliding mounting connectors of the first shelf; a second shelf having a plurality of the sliding mounting connectors attached to a periphery of the second shelf; a second wedge-shaped piece, wherein, when assembled, at least one of the sliding mounting connectors of the second shelf is caused to slide along the third vertical post until the connector abuts the shelf support of the third frame and at least one of the sliding mounting connectors of the second shelf is caused to slide along the second vertical post until the connector abuts the sliding mounting connector of the first shelf, and wherein the wedge-shaped pieces prevent further sliding of the sliding mounting connectors of the second shelf.
 20. The method of assembling a shelving system of claim 6, comprising: providing a third vertical frame having third vertical posts horizontally separated by a third shelf support; attaching a plurality of sliding mounting connectors to the periphery of a second shelf; attaching a first sliding mounting connector of the second shelf to the third vertical post of the third vertical frame; attaching a second sliding mounting connector of the second shelf to the second vertical post of the second vertical frame; sliding the first sliding mounting connector along the third vertical post until the first connector abuts the third shelf support; and sliding the second sliding mounting connector along the second vertical post until the second connector abuts the sliding mounting connector of the first shelf; and inserting a wedge-shaped piece between the first and second sliding mounting connectors of the second shelf and the respective third and second vertical supports, wherein the wedge-shaped pieces prevent further sliding of the first and second sliding mounting connectors of the second shelf.
 21. The method of assembling a shelving system of claim 20, wherein the third vertical post is rectangular. 